Raspberry plant named ‘Gleam’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct everbearing variety of raspberry plant named ‘GLEAM’. The new variety is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California and is characterized by the following: early primocane production with medium to large sized fruit of light-red coloration. Fruit is of consistent conic shape, releases easily from receptacle and is of very good flavor. Foliage is strongly concave, medium green; possessing weak rugosity and mostly 3 foliate. Primocanes have an absent or very weak waxy coat, medium thorn density and have very weak anthocyanin coloration.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant clamed: Rubus idaeus.

Variety denomination: ‘GLEAM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct fall bearingraspberry variety designated as ‘GLEAM’. This new variety is a result ofa controlled cross made in 2005 in Watsonville, Calif. between raspberryvariety ‘PS-1852’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,806) as the femaleparent and raspberry variety ‘RADIANCE’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No.20,342) as the male parent in an ongoing breeding program. The varietyis botanically known as Rubus idaeus.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was asexuallypropagated by dormant canes in Santa Cruz County, Calif. and wassubsequently selected by the inventor from a controlled breeding plot inWatsonville, Calif. in 2007. After its selection, the new variety wasfurther asexually propagated by dormant canes, roots and non-dormantroot shoot cuttings in Santa Cruz County, Calif., San Joaquin County,Calif. and Siskiyou County, Calif. The new variety was then extensivelytested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Santa CruzCounty, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination oftraits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed andremain true to type through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘GLEAM’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions ofthe central coast of California. This region provides the necessaryyear-round temperatures required for it to produce and maintain a strongvigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from July throughDecember on primocanes and in the ensuing year from May through July onthe floricanes. The following traits have been repeatedly observed andare determined to be unique characteristics of ‘GLEAM’, which incombination distinguish this raspberry plant as a new and distinctvariety:

-   -   1. Medium fruit size    -   2. High fruit yield    -   3. Light to medium red fruit color    -   4. Absent to very weak primocane glaucosity    -   5. Very good flavor

The raspberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to thenew raspberry variety ‘GLEAM’ is the raspberry variety ‘GRANDEUR’(patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,459). In comparison to the similarraspberry variety ‘GRANDEUR’, ‘GLEAM’ differs by the followingcombination of characteristics described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 ‘GRANDEUR’ (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘GLEAM’ No. 20,459)Primocane waxy coat Absent to very weak Absent to very weak (glaucosity)Predominate number of Mostly 3 Always 3 leaflets Leaf shape (crosssection) Strongly concave Flat to slightly convex Rugosity Weak StrongColor mature fruit RHS 43A RHS 42A Light to medium red Medium redPrimocane fruit weight (g) 3.8 3.9 Floricane color RHS 165B RHS 164AGreyed-orange group Greyed-orange group

‘GLEAM’ differs from its parents, ‘PS-1852’ and ‘RADIANCE’ by thefollowing combination of characteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 ‘PS-1852’ ‘RADIANCE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. (U.S. Plant Pat.Characteristic ‘GLEAM’ No. 18,806) No. 20,342) Productivity High Mediumto low Medium Glossiness (fruit) Medium Medium High Adherence ofreceptacle Weak Medium Weak Primocane time of fruiting Early Late MediumFruit size Medium Medium Small Flavor Very good Good Very good

For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determinedfor this new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance oftypical specimens of the new raspberry variety, ‘GLEAM’ at variousstages of development as true as reasonably possible with colorreproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightlyfrom the color value cited in the detailed botanical description whichaccurately describes the color of ‘GLEAM’. The depicted plant and plantparts of the new raspberry variety ‘GLEAM’ were taken in Watsonville,Calif. and are approximately 2 to 16 months old:

FIG. 1 shows typical primocane foliage and fruit color; foliate andrugosity characteristics of ‘GLEAM’ taken in the month of July 2014;

FIG. 2 shows typical coloration of apical growing tip during earlyprimocane rapid growth of ‘GLEAM’ taken in the month of May 2013;

FIG. 3 shows typical harvested fruit of ‘GLEAM’ taken in the month ofAugust 2013;

FIG. 4 shows typical dormant cane color characteristics of ‘GLEAM’ takenin the month of January 2013.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘GLEAM’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail,depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather(temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type, andlocation.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following descriptionof the new raspberry variety ‘GLEAM’, unless otherwise noted, are basedupon observations taken during the 2013-2014 growing season inWatsonville, Calif. Primocane measurements and ratings were taken fromplants of ‘GLEAM’ dug from a nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif.during the middle of October 2012 and planted approximately 3 to 4 weekslater in Watsonville, Calif. The approximate age of the observedprimocane plants is 7 to 8 months. Floricane measurements and ratingswere taken from the same planting of ‘GLEAM’ at an approximate age of 16to 18 months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics areaveraged from five years of data collected from the 2009 through 2013production seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are fromsecondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics andmeasurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted. Foliagecharacteristics and measurements are from 3-foliate foliage unlessotherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows The R.H.S. Colour Chart FifthEdition, Royal Horticultural Society, London, United Kingdom (1966).

The following tables 3-7 describe fruit, plant, foliage, flower andpest/disease characteristics of the new raspberry ‘GLEAM’ in comparisonto the similar raspberry varieties ‘GRANDEUR’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat.No. 20,459).

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS ‘GRANDEUR’ (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic‘GLEAM’ No. 20,459) Color mature fruit RHS 43A RHS 42A Light to mediumred Medium red Color achenes RHS 159A RHS 159A Orange-white groupOrange-white group Fruit length (mm) 21.74 22.91 Fruit width (mm) 20.6520.12 Length/Width ratio 1.05 1.14 Longer than broad Longer than broadSeed weight (mg) 1.73 1.75 Druplets per berry 86 93 Weight of singledrupe 0.047 0.043 (g/drupe) Relative size of drupes Medium Medium FruitSize Medium Medium Predominant shape Conical Conical Evenness of colorEven Even Glossiness Medium Medium Adherence of receptacle Weak WeakFirmness of flesh Firm Very firm Firmness of skin Medium Very firmSoluble Solids (% brix) 10.6 10.5 Flavor Very Good Good

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS ‘GRANDEUR’ (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic‘GLEAM’ No. 20,459) General: Habit Upright Upright Size Medium MediumProductivity High High Self-fruitfulness Yes Yes Type of bearingEverbearing Everbearing Primocane: Color (true) RHS 145B RHS 145BYellow-green group Yellow-green group Length (cm) 147.3 143.6 Basaldiameter (mm) 16.53 21.80 Diameter central ⅓  (mm) 9.04 12.55 Laterallength at central 48.0 43.6 ⅓  (cm) No. fruiting laterals per cane 10.817.4 Internode length at central 71.35 48.84 ⅓  (mm) Anthocyanincoloration RHS 59B RHS 59B Red-purple group Red-purple group Anthocyaninintensity Absent to very weak Weak Pubescence Absent Absent Length ofvegetative bud 6.82 11.01 (mm) Strength of waxy coat Absent to very weakAbsent to very weak (glaucosity) Time of flowering Early Medium Time offruiting Early Medium Length of fruiting season Long Long % of totalyield 52% 50% Flowering period Late June to Late June to Late NovemberLate November Harvest period Late July to Late July to Late DecemberLate December Primocane fruit weight (g) 3.8 3.9 Primocane yield(g/plant) 2,429 2,662 Young Shoots: Number Medium Medium Anthocyaninpresence Present Present Anthocyanin coloration RHS 59B RHS I79ARed-purple group Greyed-red group Anthocyanin intensity Medium MediumThorns: Thorn coloration RHS 182A RHS 180C Greyed-red group Greyed-redgroup Thorn length at central 0.55 0.76 ⅓  (mm) Thorn base at central0.94 1.53 ⅓  (mm) Thorn presence Present Present Thorn density per cm at3.94 3.38 central 13 Medium Medium Thorn texture Rigid Rigid Attitude ofthe tip Horizontal Horizontal Floricane: Color (true) RHS 165B RHS 164AGreyed-orange group Greyed-orange group Length (cm) 104.1 119.8 Fruitinglateral attitude Erect Erect Time bud burst Medium Medium Time offlowering Medium Medium Time of fruiting Medium Medium Length offruiting season Medium to long Medium to long % of total yield 48% 50%Flowering period Late April to Late April to Late June Late June Harvestperiod Late May to Late May to Late July Late July Floricane fruitweight (g) 3.6 3.7 Floricane yield (g/plant) 2,234 2,680

TABLE 5 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS ‘GRANDEUR’ (U.S. Plant Pat. ‘GLEAM’ No.20,459) Characteristic (3 Foliate) (3 Foliate) General: Color of uppersurface RHS 137B RHS N137A Green group Green group Color of lowersurface RHS 190B RHS 190B Greyed-green group Greyed-green group Shape incross section Strongly concave Flat to slightly convex ArrangementCompound Compound Relief between veins Weak Strong (rugosity) GlossinessWeak Weak Number of leaflets/leaf Mostly 3 Always 3 Terminal Leaflet:Length (mm) 126.3 127.5 Width (mm) 76.7 91.6 Length/Width Ratio 1.6 1.4Longer than broad Longer than broad Size Medium Medium to large ShapeOvate Cordate Shape of base Rounded Cordate Shape of tip AcuminateAcuminate Margins Biserrate Biserrate Lateral Leaflet: Length (mm) 103.5105.5 Width (min) 59.4 65.1 Length/Width Ratio 1.7 1.6 Longer than broadLonger than broad Rachis length (mm) 33.4 36.2 Orientation OppositeOpposite Arrangement Compound Compound Shape Ovate Ovate OverlappingFree Touching Shape of the base Rounded Oblique rounded Shape of the tipAcuminate Acuminate Margins Biserrate Biserrate Petiole: Length (mm)62.98 59.00 Width (mm) 2.82 3.99 Thom presence Yes Yes Thorn orientationErect Erect Anthocyanin coloration RHS 186C RHS 184C of upper surfaceGreyed-purple group Greyed-purple group Anthocyanin intensity Weak Weakof upper surface Stipule length (mm) 9.72 10.23 Stipule orientationErect Erect to horizontal

TABLE 6 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS ‘GRANDEUR’ (U.S. Plant Pat.Characteristic ‘GLEAM’ No. 20,459) Petal color 155C 155C White groupWhite group Flower diameter (mm) 18.14 22.55 Petal Length (mm) 6.79 6.42Petal width (mm) 3.27 3.11 Petal length/width ratio 2.08 2.06 Muchlonger Much longer than broad than broad No. petals/flower 5.4 5.2 No.sepals/flower 5.4 5.2 Relative number of pedicel thorns Medium MediumPeduncle anthocyanin presence Present Present Peduncle anthocyanincoloration RHS 183B RHS 184A Greyed-purple Greyed-purple group groupPeduncle anthocyanin intensity Strong Medium

TABLE 7 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS ‘GRANDEUR’ (U.S. Plant Pat.Characteristic ‘GLEAM’ No. 20,459) Spotted wing drosophila SusceptibleSusceptible (Drosophila suzukii) Two spotted spider mite SusceptibleSusceptible (Tetranychus urticae) Grey fruit mold SusceptibleSusceptible (Botrytis cinerae) Powdery mildew Moderately Moderately(Podosphaera aphanis var. susceptible susceptible aphanis) Yellow rustModerately Moderately (Phragmidium rubi-idaei) resistant susceptible

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of raspberry plant named ‘GLEAM’,as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forthabove.